The Blues have Cardiff City midfielder Stephen McPhail in their sights as they ponder whether to make a late swoop before the transfer window closes at tea time tomorrow.

Town manager Roy Keane has had the Irish international on his radar for some while, but the 30-year-old suffered an injury pre-season and has only just returned to fitness.

He was on the bench for the Bluebirds at the weekend as they kept up their good start to the season with a win at Portsmouth.

Keane would love to bring in some reinforcements and there is the possibility that a loan deal could be agreed with Cardif if nothing happens tomorrow.

The loan market opens up again next week and with Cardiff still struggling financially, despite having found the wherewithal to take Craig Bellamy on a season-loan loan from Manchester City, the Welsh club could look kindly on McPhail coming off their wage bill.

He started with Leeds and had loan spells at Millwall and Nottingham Forest before moving to Barnsley on a free transfer in July 2004.

– Full story in today’s Evening Star.